I don't understand the mentality here that if a guy once played for our organization, he has nothing to offer. Thome is well loved around baseball and is a future hall of famer. I would have to think that he has *something* to offer as far as insight into the game.

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The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done." -George Carlin

I don't understand the mentality here that if a guy once played for our organization, he has nothing to offer. Thome is well loved around baseball and is a future hall of famer. I would have to think that he has *something* to offer as far as insight into the game.

That mentality exists because it seems like the Sox have more or less refused to hire anyone from outside of the organization. The only ones that come to mind of late are Marco Paddy and Mark Parent. Many of their hires seem to be more about loyalty in their organization and taking care of their own than they do in putting the organization in the best chance to succeed. Team ambassadors or someone sitting in a studio, who cares. But in terms of positions that truly matter, from the front office to the coaching staff, is a whole 'nother matter.

On an individual level that means less than it does overall. Perhaps Thome will succeed in his role, who knows. But overall the White Sox are clearly loyal to a fault.

The more that comes out about this, the more it sounds like you can take the teal off of that Grooming him to take over for Ventura line. Supposedly, today Reinsdorf said that Thome will make a great manager someday. Don't know if we just don't end up in the same boat with an inexperienced manager again, but at least we'd have one with a little more enthusiasm for the job.

__________________Final 2016 Home attendance record 10-11.
Road attendance record 1-0.

The more that comes out about this, the more it sounds like you can take the teal off of that Grooming him to take over for Ventura line. Supposedly, today Reinsdorf said that Thome will make a great manager someday. Don't know if we just don't end up in the same boat with an inexperienced manager again, but at least we'd have one with a little more enthusiasm for the job.

But there's no way he directly succeeds Ventura, though. Bringing in Ventura's replacement for a nebulous job while RV is still in charge would undermine the Sox professionally as long as JR owns the team. Just bringing him in a 'special assistant that works with players' sorta undermines the whole coaching staff as it is. Either his role is being overstated or the Sox are terrible at handling hiring and firing. Or both.

I really don't get it. If you want him to coach, hire him as a coach. If you want him in the front office, give him a front office gig. His named position and activity are incongruous.

But there's no way he directly succeeds Ventura, though. Bringing in Ventura's replacement for a nebulous job while RV is still in charge would undermine the Sox professionally as long as JR owns the team.

I'll admit I'm no business genius, but I don't see how that would undermined the Sox professionally.

What this says to me is how much the players love the organization to "want" to come back and work for the Sox. Jim Thome is incredibly well respected and probably could have gotten a job anywhere. He chose here. It's obvious he enjoyed his time here.
And for the "replace RV" talk, when that time comes there's one name I for one would love as a manager: AJ.

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Do the white sox know that it is Designated Hitter, not Designated Out?

That mentality exists because it seems like the Sox have more or less refused to hire anyone from outside of the organization. The only ones that come to mind of late are Marco Paddyand Mark Parent. Many of their hires seem to be more about loyalty in their organization and taking care of their own than they do in putting the organization in the best chance to succeed. Team ambassadors or someone sitting in a studio, who cares. But in terms of positions that truly matter, from the front office to the coaching staff, is a whole 'nother matter.

On an individual level that means less than it does overall. Perhaps Thome will succeed in his role, who knows. But overall the White Sox are clearly loyal to a fault.

Joe McEwing, Jeff Manto, Razor Shines, Juan Nieves, Jeff Cox . . . I can keep going. I understand your point -- The Sox seem to hire a lot of their former players as coaches -- more so than other clubs. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. But they also hire from outside their organization.